No one from the Knick organization was willing to say yesterday whether Latrell Sprewell and his achy back will be able to make the cross-country flight to the West Coast tomorrow.

Sprewell missed his third straight game with back spasms last night as the Knicks hosted the Hornets. A Knick spokesperson said Sprewell is experimenting with acupuncture, among various treatments. Sprewell did not show up at the Garden yesterday but spoke with coach Jeff Van Gundy at Purchase College in the morning.

A Knick spokesperson said Sprewell is “improving” and is doing standard treatments such as ultra-sound and ice as well as the needles.

Van Gundy declined to say whether Sprewell will be on the Knick charter Monday when they fly to Seattle to meet up with Patrick Ewing Tuesday night. The Knicks play the Clippers Wednesday and Phoenix Friday. Sprewell had played in 146 games – including playoffs – before his back woes occurred late in the Milwaukee blowout on Election Night.

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GM Scott Layden did not sound optimistic about Joe Smith visiting the Big Apple. Layden invited Smith on Friday but as of yesterday hadn’t heard a response.

“I guess no news is bad news,” Layden said.

Smith attended the Mavericks’ game in Dallas on Friday night. The Mavs are in the picture as well as Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Financially, the Knicks can offer Smith the least – the $2.25 million exception this season. The problem is, they could only offer him the mid-level exception next season, too. Although the mid-level goes up to $4.5M, Smith could do better elsewhere. There are reports Minnesota still is in the hunt, too, as he’d be willing to accept less money to stay put.

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Allan Houston is averaging 26.4 points in last four games following his 21-point outburst in last night’s 81-67 win over the Hornets . . . Knicks were hammered on offensive boards 15-8 – 8-3 in the second quarter, when Charlotte got back into the game.

Even Felton Spencer got some time, playing the final minute, his third appearance . . . Knicks’ two losses this season are against teams with a combined record of 12-1 (Philly-Cleveland).